Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-05-07
An English View of American
Character.

That submission to the will o. the
majority which is incalculated by dem.
ocratic institutions has exercised
marked influence upon the social no
less than upon the political life OF the
people OF the United States, save in
the late slave States. 1t has not only
had the result of preventing the de-
velOpment OF individuality OF char
acter. but likewise has considerably
modified that Obstinacy OF temper and
docged tenacity OF opinion which are
TO be found in the An2lo-SaXon race.
The late Lord Beacons field on one
occasion said in the House OF Com
mons that a gentleman who had spent
several years i'll America had declared
to him that 1t was his belief that 1.-THE
citizens OF the republic were the mcst
tractabIe people IN the world. and the
readiest open TO conviction by argu-
ment."
In the United States. the absence OF
that segregation OF ofthevariousc cradesof
society which exist in Europe is evinc-
ed by the habits and manners of tine
masses IN that country. Il the ma
tional independence cf character be
occasionally pushed too far, and de-
generate into offensive self-assertion,
at least 1t prevents any approach TO
servility. No inequality OF position
or circumstances will induce a native
oil any OF the Northern States TO sub.
mt to being dealt with in the manner
or spoken to in the tone which, i'm
England. the man in bIoadcloth too
frequently adopts. as matter OF
course, toward the man la fustian.
The late Sydney Godolphin Osborne
used to relate how, once, n respectable
artisan said to bim: "Ilikeyou, my
lord; there is nothing OF the
gentleman about you" The meaning
OF the speaker was undoubtedly that
Lord Osborne did not treat him in the
patronizing manner that members OF
the higher class usually address those
whom they regard as their social infe.
rlors. Now, no one perhaps has
keener appreciation of the advantages
OF wealth and education than the
American; but the possessor OF them
should feel himself ju titled in using
towards the man who lacks .hese adj
ventitiouS gifts the language OF SUI
perlor to an inferior, Il what he can.
not understand. and which he will not
for one moment put up with. In fact.
tine iscourtesy, and even ruderess. OF
which some travellers in the United
States complain have arisen from the
fact OF their failing to appreciate the
difference existing between the social
systems OF that country and their
own.
The wide gulf in culture which in
England separates the upper and
middle classes from the lower orders,
does no exist i'll America. THIS has
arisen from various causes. In the
first place, the great bulk OF the poe
pie OF he Union are much better edu.
Gated than is, rs Yet the case in this
country. The admirable system of
common or, as they are termed. pub
lic' schools which prevails in America
affords facilities for all children OBJ
tanning q sound English education
without the payment by their parents
OF any school fees, and at q tritiing
cost 10 the taxpayer in all sections of
the Union, and especially in the West
where large grants have been made
ofthe State lands in support OF the pub
lie schools. In the second place, the
social status Of the working classes
who are natives of the United States
has been raised by the fact that the
Americans are almost exclusively en-
gagged in avocations demanding intel.
ligence and skilled labor. This has
been owing TO the circumstance that
upon the colored population and the
Irish and German immigrants have
deyolved those coarse and irksome
occupations which have to be followed
by d portion Of the inhabitants OF 9TH
er countries. TO give one instance OF
this alone, it may be stated that rare
ly is native American citizen, man
or woman. found occupying the posi-
tion as u domestic servant in any At
lantic cities.-Chambers's Journal.